The Better Part of Valor

Prologue

The heavy leather whip streaked across the narrow room and slashed
against the woman's bare back again. The vulgar weapon left another
raw, purple welt in it's wake. The woman's body recoiled from
the seething pain and a low, guttural moan escaped her throat.
Her head dropped forward and she gasped hungrily for air.

The woman had only a moment to recover before the lash landed
again, sending a raging torment along her shoulders. She clenched
her teeth together and tightly gripped the lengths of rope tied
from the beams above her head and bound around her wrists.

When the whip lashed her skin again, the woman gasped mutely.
Her body stiffened and her head jerked back toward her assailant.
The lash repeated its assault, but now the prisoner's reaction
was filled with revulsion and defiance. Her body hardly moved
at all.

Suddenly the woman became aware of another voice sounding in the
filthy area. For a moment, the vicious torture was suspended.
The prisoner took in gulps of air, trying to recapture her resolve.

"Paladron?" said a distinctly female voice. "What
do you think you're doing?" The voice was filled with mocking
and disgust. A small, auburn-haired figure stood a stride's length
inside the wooden door to the cell. In the shadows, all that was
discernible was a general shape, that of a female warrior, and
her angry stance, hands on her hips, boots set wide apart.

The prisoner tried hard to focus on the face of the caped figure
striding toward her. The other woman passed just beyond the victim's
view and strode on toward the brutal soldier who was wielding
the whip.

"Just havin' a bit of fun with our friend here." came
the sniggering reply from the soldier. Then he flicked the whip
just smartly enough to make it dance once more on the prisoner's
lower back. She recoiled again and grasped the ropes tighter.

"Now", the female voice began, "I thought we had
discussed this." The woman's tone resembled that used when
addressing a disobedient child. "Don't you remember what
we decided?" she chided the soldier as she slowly moved toward
him.

"What you decided", came the churlish reply. "I
said we should..." the soldier began.

The prisoner turned her head in the direction of the two figures
behind her. Her vision cleared in time to see the smaller woman's
gloved hand suddenly dart from under her cape and capture the
soldier's throat. Instantly he dropped the whip and began to gasp
for air. He pulled hard at the leather hand in a savage struggle
to remove the deadly grip.

The woman let the man gasp for a moment. Then she spoke again,
her voice cloying and indulgent. "Now you remember, don't
you Paladron?" she taunted him, her hand still exerting force
against his windpipe. The soldier tried to speak, still trying
to loosen the woman's hold on his throat.

"What was it?" the woman cooed again. She released the
man only slightly.

The woman increased her hold again and the man's struggle also
became more primal.

"That's right, Paladron.", she mocked him, pulling him
toward her. "This one's mine." she said, gesturing toward
the prisoner with her other gloved hand. "If anyone's going
to send her to Hades, it's going to be me." The voice was
smooth and deadly. And the soldier continued to gasp and pull
at the hand at his throat.

The woman brought her face only inches from that of the suffering
bully. "And, if you or any of your animal friends ever touch
her again...", she told him, "you'll have to carry your
sword in your teeth!"

After a long moment, the woman released her grip on the soldier's
throat and shoved him back hard against the stone wall. The man
collapsed and sank to his knees. For several moments, the only
sounds in the dirty cell were the coughing and gasping of the
soldier as he tried to pull air into his lungs. While he struggled
to breathe, the woman stood over him nearby, both hands again
perched on her hips, boot-clad feet set apart.

"Now get out of here!" she growled at the cringing man.
He pulled himself up using the stones in the wall then reached
down to retrieve the whip. The woman slammed one heavy boot across
the grip, nearly catching the soldier's fingers beneath her foot.
"Leave it." she snapped at him and the man pulled his
hand back. Still coughing and rubbing his throat, the soldier
slinked away from the woman and out the cell door.

Xena's perception had nearly returned to normal, but the burning
welts on her back were clouding her judgment. She closed her eyes
and drew a deep breath, trying to clear her mind. Her head dropped
down toward her chest and she fought to restore the immovable
control she'd always employed against pain.

She became aware that the woman had moved from behind her and
was now standing facing her. She slowly opened eyes, preparing
to meet her captor's eyes with her usual steely glare. As the
female came into focus, Xena realized she knew the face in front
of her.

"Xena?", the woman asked quietly.

The warrior's jaw dropped a bit, then she closed her mouth and
studied the dark eyes meeting her own blue orbs.

"Myfia." Xena said, her voice calm and cold.

The woman began removing her leather gloves but kept her eyes
on Xena's face. "You all right?" she asked the warrior.

"I've been better." Xena said calmly.

"No doubt." the woman said back.

For a moment, neither spoke. Each seemed to be testing the other's
will. Finally Xena spoke again. "So, now what?" she
said to the smaller woman as she flexed her hands still captured
by the ropes. "You get to have your turn?"

The other warrior returned Xena's intense gaze, then let her eyes
travel over the prisoner's bruised, dirty face.

"Right", she said in a tone as quiet as Xena's had been.
"Now I get my turn."

Chapter One

Xena's chin rose a degree as she stared back at her captor's face.
She watched as the smaller woman drew a slim, lethal dagger from
her belt and advanced forward a step. Xena instinctively pulled
back as the she saw the woman reach toward her.

The woman lowered the dagger, then leveled an impatient glare
at the warrior.

"Hold still," she said tersely, "unless you want
to lose a finger."

Xena's exhaustion was obvious on her haggard face. Even so, she
was more than slightly surprised by the woman's next move. Myfia
reached above Xena's head and grasped one of the ropes securing
the tall woman's hands. With a quick move, she sliced away the
restraining hemp, then did the same to the rope holding the other
hand.

With her arms released, Xena suddenly felt light-headed. She began
to sway, nearly loosing her balance. Myfia, wrapped a steadying
arm around the warrior's waist and pulled her gently toward the
wooden cot against the wall behind them.

"Easy", the woman crooned. "Easy" she said
again as she helped Xena sit down on the mound of dirty straw.
With the warrior safely in place, Myfia replaced the dagger in
her belt, then retrieved a small flask from under her cape. She
picked up a small, grimy earthen mug from the wobbly table next
to the bed and splashed some liquid from the flask into it. Then
she walked back to where Xena sat and offered her the mug.

Xena's ragged stare focused on the mug, then up at the woman holding
it. For a moment, Myfia thought she might refuse the liquid. Finally
Xena took the mug with a shaky hand and raised it to her lips.
The rope still dangled loosely around her wrist as she upended
the mug and drained it. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as she
reacted to the taste of the liquid. It was wine, and rather strongly
laced.

The warrior cast her blue gaze up at the smaller woman's face.
Myfia offered the flask but Xena shook her head slowly. She handed
the mug back to the other woman who set it back down on the table.

"Where's Gabrielle" Xena asked in a voice bolstered
by the wine.

"In my tent." Myfia answered, returning the flask to
her cape. "She's OK", she said as she read the concern
in Xena's face. "She's got one hell of a knot on her head,
but then, " Myfia chuckled, "she says it's alright because
she has a hard head."

Xena stretched her aching back and winced at the stiffness caused
by the raging red welts swelling across the skin. "That's
a truth", she muttered. Myfia waited until she knew the warrior's
attention was on her.

"I'll take you to her, but you've got to trust me."
she said to the woman in pain on the bed.

Xena raised a cool, hard stare to meet Myfia's questioning eyes.

"Yeah, well", the smaller woman said, "at least
for as long as it takes to get there." Myfia waited again.
She knew Xena was striving to gather her resources. "Do I
have your word?" she asked the tired warrior.

Xena reached to soothe her shoulders, then looked up at the smaller
woman standing before her. She took a long, shaky breath and let
her hands drop to her knees.

"Alright", Xena said her voice regaining it's certainty
and coolness. "You have it ... to the tent."

Myfia felt a sly grin cross her own face. "Fair enough."
she said and withdrew the dagger again. She climbed onto the rickety
bed behind Xena and reached toward the beams above them. Working
quickly, she cut a long section of the rope down and handed it
to Xena.

"Wrap that around your wrists." she told the warrior.
"Try to make it look convincing." she said. She stepped
down off the bed and noticed the look in Xena's eyes. She sent
a sheepish look toward the warrior and turned away again. While
Xena worked with the rope, Myfia reached down and picked up the
loathsome whip from the floor where the bullying soldier had dropped
it. She coiled the leather strip and hung it wordlessly over one
of the posts of the bed.

Next she reached under her cape again and withdrew a small, clean
blanket from one of the pockets. She shook it briskly, draped
it over her own forearm. Then she turned to stand before the bed
again.

Xena had finished looping the rope through the hemp bracelets
still in place on her wrists. To anyone who cared to notice, it
appeared that the warrior's hands were still bound together with
the rope.

"Give me the other end", Myfia said. Xena raised her
hands to extend the loose end of the rope toward Myfia. The other
woman took it, then wrapped it snugly around Xena's slim waist.
When she had encircled the warrior, Myfia looped the end of the
rope through the circle at the wrists, thus completing the illusion
that the warrior's hands had been secured in front of her. The
smaller woman wrapped the expanse that was left into a tight bundle.
Then she drew her leather gloves back on.

Finally Myfia stood upright again in front of Xena. "There's
just one more thing." she said, looking the warrior straight
in the eye. "And I'm really sorry about this." Xena
returned a quizzical look.

Without another moment's hesitation, Myfia raised her hand and
struck Xena full and hard across the face. The warrior's head
snapped sharply to one side, following the direction of the blow.
For a moment, she lost what small manner of control she'd retrieved
and her body rocked backward on the bed. In her mouth, Xena could
taste the salty, warm flavor of her own blood.

For a second time Myfia reached out to steady the warrior's weary
form. When she saw that Xena's senses had cleared once more, she
also noticed the cold rage that had returned to the icy blue eyes
now glaring up at her.

Myfia grimaced at the blood showing in the corner of Xena's mouth.
"I'm really sorry." she said again. "But it'll
all make sense in the tent." she said, pushing back her own
nervousness at the sight of Xena's wrath. She watched the fury
recede as the warrior took in more gulps of air.

Myfia stood up then. She took the small blanket from her arm and
draped it around the warrior's shoulders. Xena winced openly as
the scratchy material brushed against her tender back. But she
allowed Myfia to cover her. When the blanket was in place, the
smaller woman stood back and took a short breath.

She looked at Xena's face and waited. "You ready?" she
asked the warrior.

"As I'll ever be." Xena replied. She stood up. "Let's
go."

Myfia recoiled the rope again, picked up the whip from the bedpost
and turned toward the doorway. Then she abruptly turned back toward
Xena. Leaning close to the warrior's ear, she spoke softly. "But
lose some of the defiance, OK? I just slapped you silly, remember?"

Xena's jaw rippled as she fought to control the anger still rampant
within her. She glared at Myfia for a long moment, then lowered
her eyes. With a determined effort, she unclenched her fists and
let her shoulders droop dejectedly.

Chapter Two

Myfia turned again toward the doorway and tugged gently on the
rope. As the two women walked out the door of the small cell,
Myfia fixed a smirk of her own face, an arrogant grin that she
flashed openly at the soldiers flanking the path to her tent.

"What's up, Myfia?" one scraggy ruffian inquired when
he noticed his superior and her captured prize.

Myfia smirked at him and slapped his chest with her gloved hand.
"Time for some fun, eh, Thesius?" she giggled and poked
him playfully in the ribs. She turned a gloating grin toward Xena
and yanked sharply on the rope. Xena kept up the subterfuge by
stumbling forward a step, but keeping her eyes trained on the
ground before her.

The soldiers laughed and nudged each other knowingly. Myfia expended
a large, exaggerated wink at the group and waved the whip obviously
in the view of the drunken men. Laughing, she led Xena into her
tent as the soldiers amused themselves at the warrior's conquered
state.

Once inside the tent Myfia's manner changed immediately. With
one swift move she pulled off her cape and gloves. Then she turned
to Xena and quickly helped her loosen the deceitful loops of rope.
While Myfia worked, the warrior's eyes searched the tent for Gabrielle.

"She's over there", Myfia said, her voice low. She gestured
with her head toward the young woman, sleeping quietly on a mound
of cushions. Xena started for her friend but Myfia stopped her
progress with a tug on the rope still knotted at her waist.
"Wait",
the smaller woman said, still trying to work the hemp free. "Ah",
Myfia said finally as the knots opened and the rope fell away.
Xena shrugged off the blanket and Myfia watched a softness glide
across the warrior's face.

In an instant, Xena crossed the floor of the tent and gently sat
down next to her friend. She carefully put one hand to the blond
girl's face. A heavy thickness formed in her throat when she noticed
the deep, purple bruise that covered most of the left side.

Above Gabrielle's left eye, a clean, neat bandage was visible.
She noticed that the girl's face was showing it's nearly normal
pink. Xena swallowed hard against the lump in her throat and blinked
fast to stem the tears forming in her blue eyes.

"Gabrielle?" Xena said softly. She waited for the girl
to respond. "Gabrielle?" she said again and her heart
leaped when she saw the young woman stir slightly. After a moment,
Gabrielle's eyes fluttered open and she turned in the direction
of the voice she treasured most in her world. When she recognized
Xena, the girl heartily flung herself into the warrior's open
arms. For a moment the two women held the tight embrace while
the smaller warrior watched silently from across the tent.

Myfia noticed the agony etched across Xena's face. She thought
at first it was concern for her young friend's appearance. Then
she realized that Gabrielle had unknowingly brought her loving
arms directly down onto the painful welts that littered Xena's
back. Yet the warrior hadn't moved even a centimeter away from
her young friend's embrace. She held the girl close and bore the
pain without a moment's hesitation.

The obvious devotion between the two friends touched a chord in
Myfia. She silently turned away from the scene and entered the
smaller, adjoining area that she used as a dressing room. Moving
quickly, she gathered soft cloths, healing oils and herbs. She
opened the heavy chest that stood in the center of the room and
took out a large bundle wrapped in an animal fur. Then she quietly
returned to the section of the tent where Xena and Gabrielle still
sat, their arms enfolding each other.

Finally Gabrielle broke from the embrace and sat back to look
into her best friend's face. Her elation faded immediately when
she noticed the blood on Xena's mouth and her haggard, pale appearance.

"Xena", Gabrielle said, her voice trembling with concern.
"You're bleeding." She reached toward Xena's dirty face
with a shaky hand. Xena caught the small hand in hers and smiled
wanely at the girl.

"I'm all right", she said to the young woman's concerned
expression. "Don't worry about me." Xena touched Gabrielle's
face with a tender finger. "How's your head?"

The old 'Gabrielle twinkle' began to emerge again. "It hurts",
she said, touching the bruised space near her temple. Then a shaky
grin crinkled the green eyes. "But it's better than it was.
Good thing I have hard head, huh?" she joked and Xena smiled
back.

Slowly Gabrielle's eyes began to travel over her friend. "What
happened to you?" she said at last. "Where's your leather
suit?"

Xena looked down self-consciously at her grimy clothing. The light-colored
garment she normally wore under her armored uniform was stained
and filthy from her stay in the cell. Slightly embarrassed, she
ran a wavering hand over the cloth and cast a sheepish grin at
her best friend. Gabrielle watched the hesitancy in Xena's face
with concern. She could sense the warrior's uneasiness and it
began to trigger warnings within her.

Xena forced a lightness into her own voice. "You know me",
she began. "Always in the muck and the mud." She knew
Gabrielle wasn't really fooled by her contrived joviality. She
could read the girl's concern in her open face.

Eventually Gabrielle's gaze fell onto the pieces of rope still
tied around Xena's wrists. Their telltale message registered in
the young girl's eyes. She also noticed the raw, open burns left
by the hemp on Xena's skin. She raised worried eyes to meet the
warrior's blue gaze.

"What happened to you?" Gabrielle asked again, a seriousness
now in her voice. Xena decided to drop the pretense and meet her
friend's concern honestly. She took the girl's hands in hers again
and smiled warmly at the green eyes searching hers. She could
feel her own tears threatening again and she knew that would certainly
upset Gabrielle.

"I'm fine now", she told the girl earnestly. "Don't
worry about it." She held the girl's gaze a moment longer,
then turned her head toward Myfia where she stood across the tent.
Gabrielle studied Xena's bruised and tired face. She pulled herself
more upright and put a small hand on the warrior's shoulder.

Absently Xena covered the hand with her own. Then she addressed
Myfia. "Thanks, Myfia", the warrior said quietly. "For
taking care of my friend, here."

The smaller warrior winked at Gabrielle. "Actually, she's
good company." she said. "'Course , she was sleeping
most of the time", Myfia joked, hoping to lighten the atmosphere
in the tent. Of course, she noticed the worried look Gabrielle
still gave Xena. But she was not about to interfere with the relationship
between them. If Xena didn't want the girl to know about her stay
in the cell, Myfia was certainly not going to be the one to tell
her.

Gabrielle looked from one warrior than to the other. Her head
still throbbed when she moved her eyes back and forth, but her
resentment at both women began to outweigh her discomfort. She
knew they were trying to hide something from her, she just couldn't
think straight enough to figure out what it was. Xena looked like
she'd spent a fortnight inside a damp cave and Myfia kept avoiding
looking Gabrielle in the eye. Yup, something was definitely up,
but nobody was telling her what.

Finally Gabrielle noticed the cloth and healing oils that Myfia
had brought from the smaller room. Absently she touched her own
forehead where the tight bandage Myfia had applied still covered
the ragged wound in her scalp. She blinked hard when another wave
of dizziness clouded her senses. Sitting up did that; she'd forgotten
about that since the last time.

Just then, Xena swung her body around on the side of the bed to
face Myfia more directly. The warrior's blue eyes searched her
hostess' brown gaze. "She's going to be all right? Are you
sure?" Xena probed.

"She'll be fine, if she stays put for another week or so",
Myfia said. "I wouldn't recommend her getting near a horse
ever again, but seeing as how she travels with you..." Myfia
let the statement fade, hoping with all her might that her light
banter with Xena wouldn't seem too improbable to Gabrielle. She
glanced at the girl to measure her reaction, but Gabrielle's wide
eyes were now trained on the welts covering Xena's back.

Xena swept a shaky, grimy hand across her own forehead. The exhaustion
and excruciating pain of the flogging were beginning to catch
up with her. She was willing herself to be strong for Gabrielle's
sake when she heard the girl's terrified voice beside her.

"Xena!", Gabrielle said, then covered her mouth with
her hands.

The warrior instinctively reacted to the tone of panic in the
girl's voice. She turned sharply toward her friend. Gabrielle's
eyes were brimming with tears, her hands trembled against her
own face. Finally the girl's gaze left Xena's back and traveled
to the warrior's weary blue eyes. =

"Your back...", Gabrielle gasped. "What happened
to your...?"

Finally Xena realized what had so frightened the girl. She turned
her own shoulders away from Gabrielle's line of vision and put
loving hands on the young woman's arms.

"Gabrielle", Xena began, keeping her voice as calm as
possible. "Gabrielle!" she said sharply to diffuse the
terrified look in her friend's eyes. "It's OK", Xena
said soothingly. "I'm OK. Really I am." The warrior
again pulled the girl into her arms and held on tightly. Soon
Gabrielle's sobs lessened and her manner seemed more calm, too.

Myfia could tell that Xena was at the end of her personal reserves.
One more pull at her waning strength and the warrior she'd admired
for most of her life would certainly be destroyed, one way or
another. But just as Myfia had made a decision - to take a chance
and involve herself in the matters between Xena and this brave,
charming young woman - the piercing blue eyes of the warrior silenced
whatever intentions Myfia might have had.

Xena released Gabrielle and held her at arm's length. "It's
part of the scheme." she said, keeping her eyes locked on
those of the girl. "I swear to you." Gabrielle's weeping
quieted as she tried hard to concentrate on her friend's words.
When she appeared calm, Xena cast a quick glance at Myfia. The
other warrior read a desperate plea in the direct blue gaze. The
meaning flashed clearly to her.

Gabrielle followed Xena's gaze and looked directly into Myfia's
dark brown eyes. The concern in the young woman's face nearly
broke the her resolve. She cast another glance at Xena; the message
there had not changed. Myfia summoned her own determination and
forced herself to smile comfortingly.

Myfia moved to the pair on the bed and sat down on the low table
in front of the cushions. With as much conviction as she could
muster, she spoke to Gabrielle's tear-streaked face.

"Maybe you don't remember, Gabrielle", Myfia began,
her mind scrambling to make this falsehood believable. "But
I told you that the first day. Xena allowed herself to be taken
by these .. vermin." she gestured roughly toward the men
outside. "She's helping me .. us to defeat Coreigas .. by
destroying his army from within." Myfia finished her invented
speech and glanced at Xena again quickly. Then returned her attention
to Gabrielle.

The girl seemed to weigh the facts set before her. Her eyes traveled
between the other two women, searching their faces for signs to
weaken their words. She trusted both of them, Xena completely,
of course, and now Myfia, because of her kindness after Gabrielle's
injury. Slowly the panic began to clear from the girl's face.
She wiped away her tears with the back of one hand and swallowed
hard.

"OK", the girl said, her emotions still affecting her
tone. "But did you have to let them .. do this to .. "
Gabrielle tried to ask, then her voice broke again.

Xena took the girl's hand. "We had to make them believe I
'm a real prisoner." she said plainly. Myfia waited for Gabrielle's
reaction. She hoped the young woman would accept the invented
tale and be relieved.

The warrior's gaze held that of the girl. Myfia could see the
love between them transcending the horror of the situation. They
truly believed in each other. Myfia felt her own throat tighten
at the obvious intensity of their friendship. She swallowed hard
herself.

Finally she touched Xena's arm and the warrior turned to her.
"I'd better treat those .." she stopped and glanced
at Gabrielle again. ".. umm, your back.", she amended.
"Then we have to ... ", Myfia stammered, reluctant to
say the inevitable. She had to return Xena to the filthy cell
before one of the soldiers got curious about her whereabouts.

A look of weariness returned to the warrior's face. "Right",
she answered returning Myfia's gaze. "We'd better get started."
Xena looked back at Gabrielle. The girl's face remained concerned,
but the strength of her spirit was present as well. The warrior
squeezed the girl's hand again and smiled. "You'll be safe
here with Myfia", she told her friend. "She's a good
friend, too."

Xena turned to the woman seated nearby. "You will take care
of her, won't you?" she said, her words more a statement
than a question. Myfia saw the difficulty Xena felt at leaving
her young friend. She also read the grateful longing in the warrior's
eyes. Keeping her voice light, Myfia said, "Like she was
my own baby sister."

Gabrielle reacted, although weakly, to the term 'baby sister'.
A trace of her endearing 'gumption' returned as she chirped, "Hey!
Who's a baby?"

The two warriors smiled together at the injured girl on the cushions.
After another moment, Gabrielle reached for Myfia's hand. The
girl's intense green glare made Myfia a trifle uncomfortable.
There were tears still present on the sun-bleached lashes. But
she returned the young one's gaze.

"You take care of her, too." she said motioning with
a nod in Xena's direction. Then, abruptly, Gabrielle's free hand
moved up to her throbbing temple. "Ouch!" she said,
closing her eyes tightly. "Not a good idea." she said,
trying to make light of the stabbing pain behind her eyes. For
a long moment, she grimaced and held tightly to her head.

Xena's body tensed at the sight of her young friend's pain. The
warrior watched helplessly as Gabrielle suffered through the results
of her injury. Finally the girl opened her eyes, but they still
seemed dulled in pain. Quickly Myfia crossed the tent and prepared
a small drink of herbs and warm tea. She returned to where Gabrielle
lay and held out the cup to the girl. Xena helped Gabrielle sit
up far enough to swallow the potion, then handed the cup back
to Myfia. Then she helped the girl lie back down on the soft cushions.

Almost at once Gabrielle's headache seemed to subside. She blinked
her eyes again, struggling to stay aware long enough to speak
to Xena again. The warrior still held the girl's hand and stroked
the young face with the other. When she noticed that Gabrielle
was trying to talk to her, Xena leaned forward to hear the words.

"I'm sorry." the girl whispered. "If I hadn't fallen
off of Argo..." Her voice seemed to trail away. She tried
to finish her thought, but the herb drink was already working.
In another instant, Gabrielle was asleep again.

Myfia watched intense anguish cross Xena's ashen face. The effects
of her own recent abuse seemed secondary to the torment she felt
at the sight of her young friend's pain. "It wasn't your
fault, Gabrielle." Xena whispered, tears now streaking the
dirt on her chiseled features. She brought Gabrielle's hand to
her own cheek and held it tenderly. "It wasn't your fault."
the warrior said again.

Chapter Three

Abruptly Myfia rose from her seat on the table and strode purposefully
across the tent. She picked up the coiled whip and the large bundle
in the animal fur, and dropped them both close to Xena. The warrior's
attention remained on the sleeping girl until she heard the bundle
thump down beside her. She turned a questioning glance toward
the source of the noise, then trained tear-filled eyes on the
other warrior.

"What's this?" Xena asked, her voice more vulnerable
than Myfia had ever heard.. She glanced down at the bundle and
at once recognized the skin that she always used under the saddle
on Argo's back. She raised questioning eyes to Myfia again. "What
are you ...?" Slowly the warrior realized what the gesture
meant. The bundle suggested a means of escape for her.

"It's all your things." Myfia said. "Your sword,
the chakrum, your clothes...all of it." Xena looked down
at the bundle again, then returned her attention to the woman
standing defiantly before her. "Get out of here, Xena. Gabrielle
can stay until she's well enough to travel. I can protect her
for that long, just like you said." Myfia said. "Argo's
in a clearing about half a leag ..."

"No." Xena said in the voice everyone had come to recognize.
She gently laid Gabrielle's hand on the cushions and rose from
the bed. She crossed the tent to Myfia and took the other warrior
firmly by the arm. Glancing cautiously at the sleeping bard, Xena
steered the other woman toward the smaller room. Myfia picked
up the whip and the bundle and followed. When she was sure Gabrielle
was safely out of earshot, Xena turned to Myfia again.

"No. She can't travel yet and I'm not going anywhere without
her," Xena said firmly. Myfia knew the warrior was not speaking
lightly; she'd seen that look of steel come into those blue eyes
before. There was no reasoning - or suggesting - otherwise. Despite
the fatigue and exhaustion fast overtaking the warrior's body,
Myfia recognized the will of iron that had always made her admire
this woman the most. Myfia remembered having tried to change the
warrior's mind on something - once.

"Xena, look ...", Myfia began in frustration.

"No, Myfia", the warrior silenced her with a cold statement,
then turned tired eyes in her direction. "No", Xena
said again. Her reserves were beginning to fade away. She sat
down heavily on the heavy chest, giving in to the aching in her
back. For several moments, the warrior took deep breaths and concentrated
on staying conscious.

Myfia growled an oath that even shocked Xena. The smaller warrior
turned angrily and began to pace the small area in frustration.
Xena turned in stare at the woman who, as a youngster, had been
almost as close to her heart as Gabrielle was now. She tried to
imagine the young face she held in her memories compared to this
mature, and hard-skilled one. There were similarities. But there
was now a great difference in the souls of those two women. For
a moment, Xena felt somewhat guilty; this warrior had been her
prot=E9g=E9; yet now they were barely friends.

Xena gathered what little reserves she had left. "You said
a week", she said to Myfia. The smaller woman spun around
to face her. "What?" Myfia answered.

"You said she'd be ready to travel in a week. Didn't you?"
Xena said again, steeling her will against the weakness she knew
would overtake her soon.

Myfia met the warrior's defiant glance. She strode back to the
woman seated on the chest and dropped to one knee in front of
her. Myfia studied the haggard face, the dull blue eyes. She knew
the warrior's will would survive; she just wasn't too sure that
her body would.

"I said 'about a week', and besides, what do I know? I'm
not a healer." Myfia said, impatience returning to her tone.
She stood up abruptly.

"Then give me a week", Xena countered. "As long
as I know she's safe, I can...I can .. help you with .."
the warrior's speech was becoming garbled and confused. She took
in a long breath and steeled herself again against the dizziness
threatening her senses. She turned an exhausted, and pleading,
face toward the woman standing over her.

"Myfia", Xena began quietly, "I know you and I
didn't part company .. on the best of terms." Myfia scoffed
away the remark. "And I can't think of a reason on the gods'
earth why you would do ... what you've done ... for me ... for
Gabrielle." The warrior stopped again, her voice breaking
so pathetically that Myfia wanted to comfort her somehow. Then
Xena gathered her waning strength and went on.

"Please", the warrior pleaded, "just let me stay
with her this week."

Myfia straightened and flounced away. "You could be dead
in a week." she said unkindly. "By Hades, I could be
dead tomorrow. Then where would Gabrielle be?" She watched
as the hurtful words struck Xena much like the blows of the whip.
Myfia decided to pursue the vulnerable area. She didn't enjoy
it, but she knew it was the right tactic for the warrior's 'own
good'. She marched forcefully back to Xena.

"Right now that girl believes she got you captured ... and
flogged, for Aries' sake" Myfia continued, knowing the hurtful
words were doing damage to the warrior's pride. "How do you
think she's going to feel if she thinks she got you killed? What's
that going to do to her, Xena?" Myfia's words to the warrior
bit hard, like the teeth of an angry animal. Myfia maintained
her approach. "If something happens to you, how's Gabrielle
going to feel then? Or doesn't that really matter to you?"

"Nothing's going to happen to me." Xena snapped back
through clenched teeth. "I'll be careful and you'll be here."
she finished stubbornly..

Angrily Myfia turned away. "Well, I can't protect you forever!"
There was a bitterness in the statement that both women knew had
nothing to do with the current conversation. The feelings conveyed
with Myfia's words were totally separate from what was happening
now.

For a moment, Xena sat stunned on the chest, trying with all her
might to maintain her slowly crumbling senses. Then the heavy
irony of Myfia's words clanged loudly in her mind. Perhaps it
was the fatigue, the manic nonsense that often comes with complete
exhaustion. Maybe it was the rock-splitting pain now rampant across
her back. Or maybe it was just the only choice she felt was left
to her.

Xena laughed ... outloud ... softly, but outloud. Myfia was so
shocked at the sound, she couldn't respond. She stared at the
warrior who now shook her head slowly then laughed softly again.
Xena raised her eyes toward the top of the tent, as though appealing
to the gods who seemed most content to mock her.

Myfia's surprise quickly changed to nervous concern. "Something
funny?" she said as the warrior's amusement faded slowly.
Xena shook her head sadly, then raised penitent eyes to meet Myfia's
angry stare. "No ", Xena said. She rubbed her forehead
with the back of one grimy hand and turned to meet the smaller
warrior's angry eyes.

"That's exactly what I said to you ... the day I left
Amphipolis."
Xena's voice was suddenly very sad. "The day I took the men
into the hills to ..." she stopped, a tired, faraway look
in her blue eyes. "Don't you remember?" she asked numbly.

Myfia felt a bolt of shock crash through her as Xena's memory
became her own. She did indeed remember the statement, and the
day, and the numbing, paralyzing and overwhelming, sense of abandonment
and fear she'd felt as she watched Xena and the men ride away.
A wave of nausea swept through her throat and Myfia clamped her
jaw together to stem the feeling. The small warrior's lips curled
back in disgust and her knuckles blanched white with shaking rage.

"Do I remember?" Myfia said, her voice bitter and cold.
"I thought of nothing else for ten years after that day."
the woman said. "I hated you that day; I hated you every
day for a long, long time." The woman slowly moved closer
to Xena. "That's why I became a warrior, Xena. To find you
and kill you." Myfia's unbridled hatred showed clearly in
her eyes. It was so clear and complete that the warrior truly
didn't know how to respond. The woman's voice was full of sarcasm
and hostility.

"I had nothing," she continued, "absolutely nothing
left. No home, no belongings, no family ... nothing", Myfia
spat out the words at the warrior's face. "And you left me
there." the woman said, slowly, deliberately pronouncing
every word. "All I had left was you!, " Myfia's voice
peaked. "And you .. left me."

For a long moment, the two women stared at each other. The brown
eyes were filled with resentment and anger. The blue eyes of the
other were ashamed and tragically repentant. Silently, Xena begged
Myfia to stop this reenactment; she wanted only to forget the
incident. But Myfia seemed determined to punish her.

The warrior-clad woman stood defiantly at Xena's ear. She leaned
forward to deliver another indictment. Then abruptly, she changed
her mind. She stalked away a few paces, then spun around to Xena
again.

"For ten years, I followed you and your army. Every time
I found out where you were, I'd start in that direction. Oh, I
always missed you. By the time I found the town where you were
supposed to be, you and your warriors would be gone. All that
was left was the destruction, the damage and the dead. So, I'd
find out where you were going next, and I'd make my way there.
And again, you'd have left and I'd follow."

Xena closed her eyes tightly and covered her ears with her hands.
She didn't want to hear anymore. But Myfia grabbed her arm and
demanded the warrior's attention. "All I've wanted, for ten
long years", Myfia said, her eyes glinting with rage, "was
to find you again, and remind you of that day and of how I remember
it."

The warrior's own deep fury was being awakened. She pulled her
arm out of Myfia's grasp and faced her tormentor straight on.
In the voice most everyone had come to fear, she locked her eyes
onto those of Myfia.

"Well, you've found me, haven't you?" Xena said coldly
to the younger warrior. "Now what do you want?" The
blue eyes that had so recently shown defeat and surrender now
sparkled with the same fire that always frightened opponents and
had often won battles of will.

For a long moment, neither woman moved; brown eyes and blue remained
focused on each other. It seemed as though the two females were
frozen in an instant in time, moving neither back to the past,
nor forward to the present. Finally Myfia's body relaxed. Without
pulling her eyes from Xena's she stepped back a pace from the
warrior's face. Then she turned and picked up the bundle wrapped
in the fur blanket and the coiled whip and dropped them at Xena's
feet.

In a clear, calm voice, Myfia spoke. "I want you to get away
from here." Xena looked down at her things numbly, then caught
the smaller warrior's eyes again. The auburn-haired woman continued
quietly. "I want you to take your things, get dressed, get
Argo and get as far away from here as you can."

Chapter Four

Xena stared at Myfia with total amazement. Her mouth dropped open
and she stared back dumb-founded at the woman a few paces from
her. The warrior's confusion let Myfia continue.

"Argo's tied out in a small canyon half a league from here
- to the west. He's got food and water for a fortnight. There's
a dry cave there. You'll be able to rest." Myfia watched
as Xena tried to assimilate what she was saying. Finally the warrior's
tired gaze settled on the adjoining area where Gabrielle still
slept comfortably on the cushions.

"Gabrielle can stay with me." she said, anticipating
Xena's objection. "I promise you, no harm will come to her.
I give you my word on that. She'll be safe here." Myfia waited
until the warrior's attention wandered back to her. The blue eyes
were clearer; they were also brimming with tears.

Softening her tone, Myfia crouched before the warrior again. "Coreigas
is due back in camp in the morning. If he sees you, he will kill
you. Without ceremony, without a moment's hesitation. He will
kill you have your body torn apart." Myfia knew she was being
somewhat cruel, but she was determined to make her point.

"You have to leave before he gets here. I will not watch
you die. And neither will Gabrielle." Myfia said to the warrior's
humble gaze.

Xena tried to speak, but she couldn't form the words. She dropped
her head and fumbled with the pieces of rope still encircling
her raw, abraised wrists. As Myfia watched, two large rivulets
of tears traveled down the warrior's face and splashed down onto
her trembling hands. Xena looked up again at the other woman,
sorrow and shame bringing a new wave of tears.

Myfia laid a gentle hand on the warrior's arm. Xena glanced down
and covered it with her own. She took a long, shaky breath. Myfia
drew her dagger and gently cut away the pieces of rope still in
place on Xena's wrists. Then she looked into the warrior's eyes
again. Wordlessly, Xena nodded. Myfia waited a moment, then rose
and crossed the room. The young warrior picked up an earthen jug
and poured water into the basin sitting next to it.

"Let's tend to your back, and those wrists. Then we must
get you out of here." Myfia spoke to the silent warrior as
the bason filled. Xena acknowledged the instructions and wiped
a weary hand across her eyes. Myfia waited until she saw Xena
rise and make her way to the basin. Then she turned and walked
back into the larger room.

When Myfia returned, Xena was wearing her 'leather suit', as Gabrielle
had named it, her boots and the matching leather coverings on
her shins. The armor that usually covered her body was laid out
on the chest, along with her sword and chakrum. The grime had
been washed from her face and her long hair had been brushed somewhat
smooth, but the fatigue and the strain were still very evident
behind the clear, blue eyes.

Xena recognized the items that the woman carried with her. One
was a small vial containing a soothing balm which was used to
treat certain wounds; the other was a cluster of several clean
cloths with which to apply the ointment.

Wordlessly, Xena gathered up her long mass of hair and pulled
it forward over one shoulder. She moved her gear from the top
of the chest and sat down, turning her back toward Myfia. The
other warrior moved behind her and poured some of the oil in the
vial onto a cloth. Then she carefully laid the cloth against Xena's
battered back.

The warrior gasped openly, clenching both fists tight when the
cloth touched the savage welts across her skin. She gritted her
teeth and waited for the ointment to take effect. Myfia gently
dabbed the balm over the most abused areas, then remoistened the
cloth and applied another coat. When she was satisfied that she
had treated the area completely, she moved in front of Xena and
the warrior offered her wrists for attention.

Myfia ministered to the raw burns as the warrior watched quietly.
When the ointment had been spread sufficiently, Xena looked into
the face of the woman leaning over her.

Myfia's eyes glanced up from her treatment of Xena's wounds and
held the blue gaze for a moment. The women exchanged a knowing
look.

"Neither will I." the smaller woman replied softly.
"I learned it from you, you know." Myfia stood back
then, satisfied that the treatment had been applied correctly.
She turned away, recorked the vial and wiped her hands on the
cloth. Then she returned the medicine to it's normal place on
the table and turned back to Xena.

Myfia watched as Xena tightened the straps on the gauntlet that
covered her left arm. The matching protective device was already
in position. The younger warrior's eye caught sight of the metal
bracelet that rode at the base of the leather piece, along the
edge closest to Xena left hand. When she recognized the adornment,
she reached to touch it. Xena held her arm still so Myfia could
stroke the bracelet. She could see the younger woman's reaction
and that she knew the bracelet's origins.

"Mother gave it to me last year", Xena told Myfia. "I've
worn it ever since."

Myfia traced the bracelet's design with one finger. "I remember
when you gave this to him." she said softly. "I don't
remember him ever being without it." Her dark eyes looked
up to meet the blue eyes of the warrior. The two women shared
another memory. Myfia tapped the bracelet lightly. "Good
place for it." she said, bringing a tiny smile to the warrior's
tired face.

Xena studied the bracelet for a moment. Then she turned and picked
up the armor that usually covered her upper body and slid the
metal pieces into a narrow, leather bag. It was obvious that the
armor could not be worn with her back so injured.

When the metal panels were packed, Xena picked up the chakrum
and placed it in the leather bag. Then she tightened the drawstring
at the top. She laid the bag down again, next to her sword and
it's scabbard. Then she turned again to face Myfia.

Myfia's gaze traveled over the warrior's form. Now clad in her
recognized attire, wearing the weapons for which she was known,
Xena dispensed quite a different presence than that of the tortured
woman in the cell. There appeared to be an aura of strength about
her now, one that clearly replaced the trembling, defeated subject
that Myfia had ordered about in the room earlier.

"I want to say good-bye to Gabrielle." Xena said, glancing
toward the area where the girl still rested. "I don't want
her to think I deserted her." The warrior turned back to
Myfia., and flinched inwardly when she realized the irony in her
own words. Her blue eyes sent a silent apology toward the younger
woman, but Myfia's eyes showed forgiveness.

"She's still asleep", Myfia said, her hand on the warrior's
arm. "Maybe a good thing, tho', huh?" she added, a glint
of amusement in her dark eyes. =

When Xena cast a curious look at her comment, Myfia gestured wryly
at the warrior's form. Xena looked down at herself, then realized
the meaning of Myfia's remarks. Awake, Gabrielle would surely
notice that her friend was now wearing her regular 'leather suit'
with most of it's normal accessories.

Xena's somber expression broke momentarily. She even managed to
look a bit sheepish at her own lapse in awareness. She sent Myfia
a thankful look and moved toward the room where her friend slept.

Chapter Five

When she saw Gabrielle's sleeping form, Xena felt the same wave
of peace sweep through her that always followed her sight of the
young woman. Gabrielle's breathing was steady and even, her face,
though slightly flushed, showed a healthy color. The girl slept
comfortably, one small hand captured beneath her cheek, the other
falling gracefully across the cushions around her.

Xena sat down and gently stroked the tousled blond head. Gabrielle
stirred slightly, then her body relaxed again. The warrior took
the small hand lying on the cushion and carefully pressed her
lips against the warm palm.

"Sleep well, my friend", she whispered. "We'll
see each other soon." She laid Gabrielle's hand back on the
cushion and rose quietly. For a moment, she filled her mind with
the sight of her lovely friend, then turned and walked silently
into the smaller room again.

Myfia stood up when Xena entered the dressing room again. She
watched the warrior's face regain it's composure. Knowingly, she
approached the tall form and took Xena's hands in her own.

"The moment she can travel, I'll send her to you." she
said to Xena's worried blue eyes. "I'll send someone trustworthy
with her." she told her. "I swear to you, she'll be
safe."

Xena studied the face of the small woman before her. This was
the face of a friend nearly forgotten. Until the incident which
had resulted in the past few day's events, Xena had not thought
of Myfia in many years. She told herself it had been easier in
order to put that part of her life behind her. She realized now
that Myfia would always be part of her, just as Gabrielle too
would always be in her heart.

She gathered the young warrior in her arms and held her tightly.
Myfia returned the embrace, while still being mindful of Xena's
injured back. The two women reclaimed the friendship of their
youth and put the old hurt behind them. Finally Myfia stepped
away from the warrior and straightened her shoulders.

"You've got to go, Xena. Now." she said. "Go due
west. The clearing is about a half a league, due west." she
said, emphasizing the directions. "Use the cave. It's protected."
Xena nodded and moved to gather her weapons and the leather bag.

As she turned back to Myfia, she saw the younger warrior standing
near what was actually the back wall of the tent, a reluctant
look in her eye. Behind her, a long, ragged gash had been slashed
in the fabric.

"OK", Myfia said, her hands set loosely on her hips.
"I'm ready." Xena stared at the younger woman, again
confused by her words. "Well, now it's your turn.."
Myfia added facetiously. "I told you it would all make sense
in the tent." Xena began to understand the younger woman's
inference. However, she was reluctant to execute the final move
of the subterfuge.

"Xena", Myfia said anxiously, "you must. They're
not going to believe I just let you walk out of here. Not the
way I 'hate you'." Myfia prodded, coaxing the warrior. "Hurry,
we running out of time."

The warrior's strength surged one last time. Quickly she gave
the younger woman a hug, then stepped back a few paces. Summoning
every ounce of reserve left in her, Xena drew back her hand and
delivered a jaw-numbing slap across the side of Myfia's face.
The younger warrior's head snapped to her left and her body was
slammed backwards into the room, tumbling over the small table
and finally landing face-down on the bed. Just before she succumbed
to unconsciousness, Myfia looked up to see Xena's form disappearing
through the gash in the tent. Then everything went very dark.

Chapter Six

Xena leaned back against the large rock and shielded her eyes
against the morning sun. She followed the form of the young blond
woman walking gracefully near the stream. Gabrielle bent down
to scoop up a handful of the clear, sparkling water. The girl
brought her hand up and spread the cool liquid over her face and
neck. She filled her cupped hands again and drank deeply. Then,
shaking her hands of the remaining droplets, she turned to wave
at Xena's reclining form.

The warrior waved back. A calm, grateful smile played across the
dark-haired princess' face. The wound on Gabrielle's skull had
healed completely, leaving no after-effects and no noticeable
scarring. The dizziness that had plagued the young bard after
the initial fall had disappeared. Xena had said many silent thanks
to the gods' for the girl's recovery.

Gabrielle sank down on the shaded area next to Xena. Her color
and spirit had also returned to their normal, refreshing levels.
Her eyes were bright, her awareness as sharp as before. And, Xena
noted with amusement, she had resumed her telling of tales.

"It's so peaceful here", Gabrielle said, gently stroking
the lush grass around them. "Even Argo seems happy to be
without the saddle." Both women turned to look at the powerful
steed who now munched lazily on the grass near the stream. Xena
smiled back at her friend. As always, the mere presence of the
young woman filled the warrior with a warm, calming peace. =

Xena pulled her legs up and wrapped her long arms around them.
The warrior's leathers were tucked away in the bag with her armor.
She hadn't worn them since her arrival at the clearing. At first,
the outfit had been too painful against the blisters on her back.
While the abrasions healed, Xena had taken to wearing the loose,
soft shirts that had also been part of the cache left by Myfia's
couriers. On her left wrist, she wore the wide, metal bracelet
with the intricate designs.

There had also been two long, comfortable skirts wrapped in the
blanket with the shirts; the warrior had shortened them deftly
with her knife. Long skirts would never be her forte again. Besides,
she told herself, the linen had proven painful against the cuts
and scrapes that had covered her legs. They'd been another souvenir
of her time in the cell and the sadistic soldier with the whip.

She turned to the Gabrielle, now lying on her stomach, her leather
boots in the air behind her. "How's your head?", the
warrior asked, tousling the blond hair. She scanned the area on
the girl's scalp where the bandage had been. The only evidence
of the wound was a small area near her left temple where the hair
seemed thinner and more fragile.

"It's fine." Gabrielle answered absently. Then she smiled
up into the warrior's caring blue eyes. "It's been fine for
days. It hasn't even ached for since the morning before last.
So you can stop worrying, OK?" the blond said. She rolled
over onto her back, folded her hands across her waist and gazed
lazily at the sky.

Xena let her gaze linger on the young bard for a moment longer,
then raised her attention to the sparkling water in the stream
again. Sunlight danced on the water, making glistening star-shaped
bursts on the surface.

"Xena?", Gabrielle said.

"Hmm?" the warrior answered, still enjoying the magic
on the water.

"How long was I hurt?" Gabrielle asked, her face now
turned toward the warrior.

Xena turned her attention to Gabrielle's open face laying sideways
next to her. She studied the young countenance for a moment. "You
were with Myfia for a week and three days."

The warrior waited, not ready to impart more about the horrid
fortnight past than Gabrielle requested. Xena's own body was also
strong and healthy again. The welts on her back were gone as were
the burns from the ropes. By the time Gabrielle had arrived at
the clearing, the effects of her own nightmarish ordeal had disappeared,
too. She had decided to let Gabrielle pursue only whatever pieces
of the events she remembered; Xena would not volunteer anything
new to her.

She watched as Gabrielle's face showed the confusion she still
had about some parts of those days. Again, Xena held her tongue,
letting Gabrielle ask the questions. She could see the young woman
struggling to put events into blank spaces in her memory.

Gabrielle's gaze returned to the clear sky above, and Xena's to
Argo who still munched languidly. When the warrior sensed Gabrielle's
eyes on her again, she glanced to meet them.

"I think I was having nightmares while I was there, too."
Gabrielle said. Her face grew frightened for a moment.

"Oh?" Xena said, waiting for Gabrielle to continue.
The look of worry on her friend's face brought a tightness to
her chest.

Gabrielle flopped back over onto her stomach. "Yeah, horrible
nightmares. I dreamed I saw you hurt...terribly hurt ... with
your back ..." The girl shuddered at her own vision. "Your
back had been ..."

Xena reached for her friend. "Don't, Gabrielle. It was just
a nightmare." She squeezed the girl's hand and smiled at
the anxious face. "It happens with an injury like yours."
She watched the young face relax. "Try not to think about
it."

Gabrielle searched the warrior's face for a moment. Xena tried
to keep her own expression as blank as she could. Finally Gabrielle's
fears seemed dispelled. Xena leaned back against the large rock
again and stretched her long legs out before her.

She patted her own thighs. "C'mere", she said to Gabrielle.
The girl moved closer, laying down on her back, her head settled
comfortably on the warriors strong legs Xena stroked gentle fingers
across the young woman's forehead, fingering the soft, blond hair
around the girl's face.

"You're probably going to have those dreams for a while.
Just let them happen and soon, they'll go away. It's from your
injury." Xena hoped she was giving Gabrielle some comfort.
She'd seen the effect of an injury like hers keep madness in a
man forever. Gabrielle seemed calmer now. Xena watched the green
eyes close.

The quiet sounds of the clearing softly lulled both women. Xena
leaned back against the rock again and closed her eyes. She breathed
in the clean, wholesomeness of the clearing. For a moment, her
own nightmares seemed far away, the demons within her fell silent.
Even Argo's whinnies seemed more content.

Gabrielle opened her eyes and gazed up at the dosing warrior.
Xena had been more at peace these past few days than at any time
since she'd known her. Lying here comfortably on the grass in
the shade, without her armor and her weapons, the woman Gabrielle
called her best friend seemed almost transformed by the gentleness
of the clearing. They'd talked together, actually talked, every
night before they went to sleep. Talking had never been Xena's
favorite activity; Gabrielle had always had to lead the conversations
and direct the questions.

But here, the warrior princess had found an inner calm, a reconciliation
within herself and it had opened a part of her heart not even
Gabrielle had known before. Xena had shared several events in
her early life with the bard that week. She talked about her life
in Amphipolis before the siege of Cortese and the violence that
had claimed her life for so long. Xena had also spoken of Myfia
and the girl's friendship during their childhood.

Gabrielle had listened and watched the warrior's face during those
tales. There was great pain in her friend's eyes when she spoke
of the other woman, but Gabrielle had never truly learned the
reason why the subject hurt the warrior so. The young woman had
developed a great intuition when it came to this her most treasured
friend; the warrior's pain had become her pain too. That was the
reason Gabrielle had been dreading telling her friend what she
knew must be told.

Xena's eyes popped open when she felt the girl's gaze. She focused
on the face in her lap. "Something the matter?" she
asked when she saw the concern in the young bard's eyes.

Gabrielle sat up, pleased to notice that she could raise up again
without waiting for the vicious headache to subside. "Nope",
she said, her face away from Xena. The warrior kept her attention
on the girl; she sensed the uneasiness that had risen in her friend.
Her internal warnings were awakening again.

Gabrielle stood up and stretched her lithe body. She looked at
the clear stream for a moment. "You hungry?" she asked,
turning to Xena. "So am I." she said, answering her
own question. Xena's quiet smile reflected her on-going amazement
at the girl's uncanny ability to sense her needs. She had long
ago given up trying to figure out how Gabrielle's senses had become
so attuned to her own; she had decided to simply enjoy the girl's
knack.

"Then I guess I'm hungry too." Xena finished lamely.
Gabrielle had already started toward the cave where the cooking
utensils were. When the warrior had arrived at the clearing nearly
a fortnight ago, ragged and suffering greatly from her abuse as
a prisoner, she had found them and all the other provisions waiting
for her. Food, water, blankets, bedrolls, wood for the fire, clean
clothing and medicine were all stacked neatly in the cave. There
had even been a large pile of hay and fodder for Argo, as well
as a leather pouch filled with the strong wine Xena had tasted
in Myfia's camp.

At the time, the warrior had been too exhausted and hurt to spend
the effort figuring out where the supplies had come from. As she
grew stronger and her wounded body healed, she recognized the
most logical answer to the question. Myfia had somehow found a
way to provide the reserves. She had sent them with one of her
men, knowing that Xena would not be able to forage for them or
purchase them for herself.

During the days she had spent recuperating, the warrior had vowed
to find a way of thanking the other woman for her kindness and
the nobility of her actions. Myfia had indeed saved both her and
Gabrielle's lives; it was not a deed that Xena would ever forget.
She had also spent those days combating the shame she felt at
the way she had treated the other warrior in their younger days.
She had pledged to find a way of atoning for that action, too.

There were sounds of meal preparation coming from the opening
of the cave. Gabrielle had insisted on resuming her function as
chef as soon as she had begun to regain her strength. Xena had
admitted that she was happy to oblige the girl; cooking had never
been a favorite activity for the warrior, either. The tall, beautiful
woman rose smoothly from her position against the rock and strode
toward the activity. She realized that she really was hungry.
As she came closer to the fire, she recognized the aroma of one
her favorites - roasted game bird.

On her way to the cave opening, Xena checked Argo's food trough
and the hay in his area. Both were nearly spent. Soon it would
be time for them to move on, to leave this lovely, peaceful place.
Gabrielle was healthy and sound again. Her own body felt stronger
than ever. As tempting as staying was, Xena knew they would have
to leave and resume their journeys. She decided to simply enjoy
what time they had left.

The smells of the meal greeted her when she arrived at the campfire.
Gabrielle had laid out the plates, earthen mugs and eating tools
they'd found among the supplies. She had even placed a lovely,
lavender flower in the vessel Xena usually used. The warrior watched
as the girl busied herself with the meal's preparation. How completely
their lives had become melded together in the short time they'd
traveled beside each other. And how painfully incomplete Xena
felt whenever the young woman had not been there at her arm's
reach.

Xena sat down cross-legged at the edge of the blanket Gabrielle
had spread next to the fire. She picked up the flower from her
cup and held to her nose to enjoy the petals' fragrance. The girl
glanced up from her work and smiled when she saw Xena toying with
the flower. The women exchanged a smile. Then Gabrielle's attention
returned to the fire and the pot she was stirring.

The warrior inhaled deeply and sank down to rest on one elbow.
She looked down at the flower in her hands. "We're going
to have to be on our way soon." she said regretfully. "Argo's
almost out of hay" she commented lightly.

Gabrielle brought the pot to Xena's dish. "Yes, I know. So
are we.", she said, the grin Xena so adored gracing her face.
The women laughed together at the bard's joke. Then they settled
in to enjoy their meal. Before they'd finished, Argo wandered
back towards her fenced area and pushed her head into the fodder
pile. The mare munched the feed quietly, her eyes on the women
near the fire. It was as though the magnificent animal was also
readying herself for the resumed journey to come.

Chapter Seven

After they had eaten, Gabrielle took the pot and the earthen tools
down to the stream to clean them. She carefully rinsed and dried
each mug and plate to make sure no food remained. When she returned
to the cave, she held the utensils out in front of her and turned
a questioning eye toward Xena.

"Should we take these with us, or leave them here, do you
think?" she asked.

The warrior thought it a strange question; she hadn't even considered
either option before that moment. She carefully studied at the
young bard's face.

"I think Myfia would want us to keep them." Xena said
finally. "She knows we lost all our gear and that it'll be
a while before we can replace them." The warrior waited to
hear Gabrielle's reply. When the girl didn't respond, Xena pressed
on, keeping her tone light. "I vote for taking them with
us." she said easily, yet the familiar warnings were sounding
again.

Gabrielle looked down at the implements for a moment, then turned
a little smile toward the warrior's nervous blue eyes. "OK",
she said, "I vote we take them, too."

Xena watched the young woman carefully pack the tools away in
the pouch she wore slung over her shoulder when they traveled.
Even in the quiet shadows in the cave, Xena noticed the tender
way the girl handled the items, as though paying homage to the
other young woman who had provided them.

The warrior fought the nagging fear rising inside her. She told
herself that Gabrielle had her own way of dealing with certain
feelings and Xena had worked long and hard at affording the girl
that right. The courageous woman's chest had turned tight and
nervous, but she steeled her impulse to press the girl.

That night, as she prepared for sleep, Xena turned to gaze at
Gabrielle as she always did before reclining herself. Her heart
bolted when she realized that her friend's face was covered with
tears. The warrior threw back the blanket and moved quickly to
the young woman. Gabrielle sat almost transfixed, staring into
the clear night, saying nothing, barely noticing that Xena had
moved to her side.

After a moment, Gabrielle took a long, shaky breath and wiped
her face with the back of her hand. She focused her attention
on her other hand, clenched tightly in her lap. As the warrior
watched, the young bard labored to compose herself. Finally, when
Xena was nearly wild with concern, Gabrielle turned her tear-streaked
face toward the worried blue eyes trained on her.

Gabrielle looked back down at her hand and opened the small fist.
Xena followed the girl's gaze to the item nestled against her
palm. It was a small medallion tethered on a short, leather string.
The warrior recognized the round, metal ornament at once. Myfia's
battle uniform had had rows of the identical object attached across
the front and back of the vest. Xena stared at the silver piece,
then looked back at the tears streaming down her friend's face.
The warrior's mind worked frantically to determine the importance
such an item could possibly have for Gabrielle.

Xena searched the girl's countenance for some clue, then simply
elected to wrap her arms around the young woman to offer whatever
solace she could. Gabrielle's young body shook with new sobs and
Xena pulled the blanket around the two of them. Her own heart
was aching with a numbing concern for the girl she held in her
arms.

"Shhh", she crooned to the sobbing girl. The warrior
pulled her closer and held the trembling body tightly. After Gabrielle
had quieted somewhat, Xena spoke to her softly. "What is
it?" she asked again. "What's wrong, tell me."
She pulled back enough to look into the young woman's tearful
eyes. "Gabrielle, please." the warrior said, her chin
against the blond head. "Tell me what's the matter."

For the next few minutes, the only sounds in the cave were the
crackling of the fire and the lessening sobs coming from the young
bard. Xena continued to hold the girl close, rocking her gently,
waiting for a sign that Gabrielle was ready to talk about this
painful thing. Finally the young woman took in several gulps of
air and wiped her face with her hand again.

Without releasing Gabrielle, Xena reached for the water jug and
the group of clean cloths near it. She soaked one of the pieces
in the cool water and placed it against the girl's hot face. Gabrielle
pressed the cloth against her eyes, then cooled the rest of her
face with it. Xena handed over the water jug and the girl drank
heavily. The warrior waited, watching the young bard's strength
fight reclaim her manner.

When Gabrielle at last seemed calm, Xena stroked the long blond
hair away from her treasured friend's feverish cheek. She strained
to focus in the light of the fire, searching Gabrielle's anguished
expression for some sign. Finally Xena sat back, propping one
long leg up against Gabrielle's back. She leaned on one hand to
observe the bard's face.

"Gabrielle", Xena said, her voice gentle and warm. "Did
you have another nightmare?" Gabrielle continued to stare
at the medallion, stroking it lovingly with one finger. She shook
her head 'no' in answer to Xena's question. Then, in a voice still
thick with her tears, Gabrielle began to speak.

"Myfia gave me this the night before she had Demarius bring
me here." Xena assumed the name she mentioned was that of
the young soldier who have delivered Gabrielle to the clearing.
The girl looked up into Xena's eyes. "She told me that, if
I ever needed her, all I had to do was send this to her and she'd
find a way to come to me."

Xena's throat tightened when she heard of the kindness of her
former protege. She added this decency to the list of acts for
which she would thank the woman. The warrior stroked the soft
hair again and ran a comforting hand along the girl's back.

"We have quite a lot to thank her for, don't we?" Xena
said quietly.

Gabrielle looked down at the medallion again, a new wave of tears
covering her cheeks. "Now I'll never be able to thank her."
the girl sobbed. "I'll never be able to tell her how grateful
I'll always be for what she did for me ... for us." Gabrielle's
body shook with sadness again and Xena reached to gather her close.

"We'll find her again, I promise." she said soothingly.
"We'll make sure we find her so you can tell her." Xena
said to the girl whose pain ravaged her own heart.

Gabrielle's anguished voice came from within the warrior's comforting
embrace. "She's dead, Xena." the girl said woodenly.
"Myfia's dead."

The warrior's body stiffened at Gabrielle's words. She felt as
though someone had leveled a lethal blow to the middle of her
chest. Her arms tightened around the young woman she held and
a loud clamor sounded in her ears. Slowly she released Gabrielle
and looked into the girl's tearful gaze.

"Demarius told me the day he brought me here. Coreigas killed
her when he found out she'd let a prisoner escape. He just pulled
out his sword and killed her." Gabrielle's eyes locked onto
those of her most valued friend. The girl's voice became calm,
now, as she watched the fury mount in the warrior's eyes.

Xena pulled her eyes from Gabrielle's face. She could feel her
own body begin to shake as the bard's words hammered into her
brain. The warrior in her began to scream out as her arms fell
away from Gabrielle's body. For a moment, she couldn't move. Her
heart was pounding and the tightness in her chest shortened her
breath.

Gabrielle took hold of Xena's hands. For an anguished instant,
the girl felt a wave of panic threaten her own control. She watched
as the warrior's rage swept through her, peaked, then slowly receded
into a smoldering heat behind the clear, blue eyes. Just when
she was certain that Xena's anger would explode from her, she
saw a frightening weakness settle around her best friend.

"No." Xena said into the fire. "No." she stammered
again. The warrior seemed to crumple forward, her expression empty
and cold. She covered her face with her hands and rocked her head
back and forth. "No" she once more, her voice strident
and pathetic.

Gabrielle reached forward, now comforting the woman whose pain
she shared. Soon Xena's sobs shared the sound of Gabrielle's.
The two friends moved to console each other. They wept together
for the fine woman whom they had both come to value so much. As
the thin lines of dawn crept into the clearing, they fell into
an exhausted sleep. The young woman's head rested on the warrior's
shoulder. Between them lay their intertwined hands.

Epilogue

Xena stood near the edge of the sparkling stream. Argo's reins
hung loosely from her left hand. She wore her standard outfit,
metal armor covering the leather suit, shin lacings, boots, gauntlets
and arm bracelets. Her sword was laced on her back, her chakrum
hung on her belt. For a time, the warrior let the peaceful beauty
of the clearing seep into her soul. Her thoughts were calm and
steady.

The warrior turned when the young, blond woman approached her.
Gabrielle smiled at her warmly and gave Argo's neck a gentle pat.
Over her shoulder, the girl carried her signature pouch filled
with various travel gear. In one hand, she carried a strong, wooden
staff. She lifted the flap on one of the bags latched on the horse's
tack and dropped in the two large stones of flint. She cradled
the staff in the crook of her arm to retie the bag. When she had
picked up the staff again, she turned to her companion.

"Ready to go?" the bard asked the warrior princess.

"Ready", the warrior replied. The women started walking,
toward the ridge above them.

When they arrived at the road, the two friends turned to face
the sun. Then, for a moment, they both turned back to gaze down
to the lovely clearing, with it's cool, clear stream and the safe,
comfortable cave at the center. Each indulged in her own memories
of this special place, both spent time securing those memories
in her heart.

Finally Gabrielle turned to Xena and placed a loving hand on the
warrior's lean arm. Facing the quiet cavern in front of them,
she spoke quietly to her best friend.